Experience Unmatched Performance with Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ Tires: A Comprehensive Review of the Upgraded Model

Only four years ago, Bridgestone introduced the RE980AS, an all-season ultra-high-performance tire that made the promise of providing traction and driving enjoyment throughout the entire year. However, just three years later, the most successful tire manufacturer in the world introduced an upgraded model known as the RE980AS+.

The RE980AS was already an exceptional tire that fought for class honors, but the opposition wasn’t standing still and continued to improve their products. Recently, Michelin introduced the remarkable Pilot Sport All Season 4, Continental updated its successful ExtremeContact DWS 06 with the “Plus” model, while Vredestein introduced the remarkable Hypertrac All Season. Since Bridgestone has always had the goal of competing for first place in its class, it was necessary for the company to respond to the current changes in the market by developing the RE980AS+.

The tread design of Bridgestone’s most recent UHP all-season tire isn’t completely original; it’s very similar to that of the RE980AS, and the only real distinction is that it uses different tread compounds. Despite this, the manufacturer promises advancements in ride comfort, snow performance, and tread wear, all of which were areas in which the previous model was a step or two behind the competition.

But does the RE980AS+ live up to its expectations and claims? And perhaps most significantly, how does it compare to Michelin’s Pilot Sport All Season 4 and Continental’s DWS 06 Plus? Let’s find out together in this comprehensive analysis of the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+!

Because of its asymmetric tread pattern and Bridgestone’s most recent and cutting-edge tread compound, the Potenza RE980AS+ offers drivers of hot hatchbacks, sports cars, fast coupes, and performance sedans a tire option that can be used reliably throughout the entire year. This is especially beneficial for winter driving conditions. The total performance of the tire benefits from the presence of both of these characteristics.

Bridgestone’s reengineered UHP all-season tire receives its most major upgrade in the shape of a new compound, which also happens to be the name of the tire. To make the rubber more flexible and, as a result, improve snow grip and wear qualities concurrently, the company incorporated soybean oil in their manufacturing process. Even while softer rubber often wears out faster, the research and development team at Bridgestone appears to have identified a solution that improves both of these attributes at the same time.

 

On the other hand, the asymmetric tread pattern has not been altered from how it was in the past. It still possesses lateral grooves, which improve the vehicle’s performance on dry roads in terms of both its handling and braking capabilities. In the meantime, the tread includes four circumferential grooves and open shoulder slots, both of which serve to evacuate water and lessen the risk of hydroplaning. In other words, the tread is designed to help prevent you from sliding out of control. Last but not least, the 3D full-depth sipes and chamfered slots enhance the biting edges of the tire over the course of its lifetime when driving on snow. These features are important since snow driving can be dangerous.

The Potenza RE980AS+ has a standard pair of twin steel belts on the inside of it, and these belts are strengthened by a nylon wrap that has been spirally twisted. In addition, the tire includes three plies of polyester in the sidewalls and two plies of polyester under the thread, which helps to increase responsiveness without compromising ride comfort. However, because this is a Potenza tire, Bridgestone also included a sidewall filler in order to increase the rigidity of the rubber. This was done so that the tire would be more stable. When driving at high turning speeds, this is a very crucial consideration to make.

The Potenza RE980AS+ appears to be a very feature-rich tire that integrates all of the most latest technologies that Bridgestone has to offer. This is the general impression that one gets when looking at the tire. On the other hand, the question that needs to be answered is whether or not this will result in a product that is superior to the products that it competes with.

Wear bars, which are a standard in the industry, are embedded into the tread grooves of Bridgestone tires rather than the business inventing its own distinctive and easy-to-read maintenance indications. This decision was made to save the company time and money.

These indicators will not light up until the tread depth of the tire satisfies the requirements that have been established by law. They are unable to precisely measure the amount of tread that is still present over the duration of the tire’s lifetime as a result of this. For instance, in order to have sufficient traction in the snow, you will need to have at least 5/32 of an inch of tread depth left, and the wear bars are of no use in this scenario.

The tread pattern on the Continental DWS 06 Plus tire, on the other hand, is a clever mix of the letters D, W, and S. This tire is manufactured by Continental. They are engraved onto the tread blocks, and the depth of each one is different from the others. It is a warning sign that the tire will not be able to provide adequate traction in the snow if the letter “S,” which stands for “snow,” is no longer visible on the side of the tire. The letter W and the letter D share the same characteristics. (dry).

It is imperative that the driver be provided with instruments that make it easier for them to monitor the tread depth, and I strongly encourage major tire manufacturers to start incorporating enhanced indications into their products as soon as possible.

The exceptional treadwear warranty for the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ covers 50,000 miles for all sizes. This warranty is included with the purchase of the tire. However, if the front and rear tires are different sizes, which is something that is very typical in rear-wheel-drive sports cars, you will only obtain one-half of the mileage that you would have received otherwise.

The RE980AS+ has the most direct competition from the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus and the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. The guarantee that comes with each of these tires is guaranteed for 50,000 and 45,000 miles, respectively, during the course of its lifetime. Some of the more reasonably priced varieties, such as the Sumitomo HTR A/S P03, come with a guarantee that covers 65,000 miles in units that have lower speed ratings; however, this comes at the expense of the grip that the tire provides.

It would appear that the RE980AS+ is one of the UHP all-season tires that has the longest lifespan overall. This is the case when compared to other models. On the other hand, given that the RE980AS+ was only introduced to the market in 2018, we will have to wait a little while longer before getting feedback from actual customers. (2021).

When used on dry asphalt, the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ is among the best all-season tires that can be purchased in terms of the steering feel, the grip, and the effectiveness of the brakes.

Because I have always appreciated the way the Potenza tires feel while I am behind the wheel, this behavior did not come as a complete surprise to me at all. When you drive on the RE980AS+, you nearly get the impression that you are driving on a summer tire designed for maximum performance, despite the fact that it is only an all-season kind. Because the steering is both extremely sensitive and direct, as well as because you will always be aware of what the tires are doing, the experience of driving as a whole will be more enjoyable for you. The RE980AS+ was designed to make it easy for drivers to handle turns at high speeds, which is probably all you’ll ever need from a performance tire.

Having said that, the steering feel is not the only thing to take into consideration in this case. In addition, the Potenza RE980AS+ provides a great lateral grip, which is particularly useful when the terrain is ice. If you subject it to even more heat, it will come back to life even more, and it will grip the road almost as effectively as a summer performance tire would if it were used in warmer weather. Aside from that, the stopping distances are some of the shortest in the category, and there is a large amount more acceleration traction than you would ever require on public roads. Other than that, the vehicle has a lot of potential.

Having said that, you shouldn’t use this tire on the track because it loses its efficiency very soon when the temperature gets rather high. The reason for this is that it was not designed to perform well in such conditions. If you want to enhance your lap times in those conditions, your best bet is to stick with maximum- or extreme-performance summer tires. This is especially true if you drive a racecar.

The Potenza RE980AS+ is a few of steps behind its competitors, notably the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus and the Pilot Sport AS4, respectively, when it comes to traction. On public roads, though, the Potenza’s superior steering precision shines through, and the end result is a more pleasurable experience behind the wheel for the driver. However, the only place where these distinctions can be quantified accurately is on a racetrack.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ ultimately performs worse in terms of overall traction than its nearest premium competitors from Continental and Michelin. This is despite the fact that it is a very good performer when it comes to wet conditions.This comes as a surprise considering that when Bridgestone first debuted the RE980AS, the tire quickly established new benchmarks for wet traction in its category. As a result, this new information comes as a shock. As a consequence of this, the tire manufacturer most likely did not see the need to improve the wet traction in the upgraded model, and as a direct consequence of this, you get the same amount of it as you did in the model that came before it.

While this is going on, the competition has made substantial strides forward, as seen by the fact that the Pilot Sport All Season 4 and the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus offer improved longitudinal and lateral traction on wet roadways. Because of this, stopping distances are reduced, and cornering speeds are increased.

Despite this, it is not accurate to say that the Potenza RE980AS+ has a bad performance when exposed to moist environments. Because it continues to be one of the greatest in terms of traction, it makes it very easy for the driver to guide the car down the course that they want it to follow. To be more specific, the Potenza RE980AS+ understeers somewhat when driven to the edge of the tread, which enables you to simply shorten the line by reducing your speed. This is in contrast to other ultra-high performance all-season tires that do not understeer when driven to the edge of the tread. To put it another way, this tire offers an exceptionally high level of protection.

In addition to this, you won’t have any issues with hydroplaning because the tread pattern appears to be capable of deflecting a sizeable amount of water away from the tread. This means that you won’t have any problems driving in wet conditions.

But when I think of how much Bridgestone costs for a set of these Potenzas, I can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that they have less traction in the rain. Bridgestone charges a lot of money for these tires. A premium tire should nonetheless give great performance in each and every category, even if the issue won’t be a concern for the vast majority of customers.

You might be surprised by how well the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ manages light snow, despite the fact that it is not designed for use in conditions of extreme winter weather. It is a monument to the enhancements that Bridgestone made to its most current model and demonstrates how far ultra-high-performance all-season tires have progressed over the past few years.

On routes that have a light covering of snow, you may travel a significant distance on these tires. Because the stopping distances are among the shortest in the category and there is more acceleration traction than you’d need in the winter, you won’t get stuck. The stopping lengths are among the shortest in the category.

If I were to pick apart one particular aspect of the Potenza RE980AS+, I would say that it has a slightly tense feeling when turning corners. The traction is there; ultimately, your vehicle won’t spin, but you’ll need to be more engaged with the steering wheel in order to maintain control of it. For example, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 has a better balanced feel while providing the same level of traction as its predecessor.

However, despite the fact that Bridgestone’s most recent UHP all-season tire performs well on light snow, you should still use caution when driving through deep snow. Additionally, the ice traction is not nearly as good as it is on a tire designed specifically for the winter.

As a result, if you reside in a location that gets severe winter weather, I suggest getting tires that are designed for both the summer and the winter. The Potenza RE980AS+, on the other hand, will function admirably for all other customers.

Although the Potenza RE980AS+ is not the most smooth or silent UHP all-season tire, it nevertheless performs admirably for the category and provides a ride that is rather refined.

However, what exactly does that imply? When they were first introduced, UHP all-season tires provided rides that were rough and noisy. However, these tires have come a long way since then. The RE980AS+ is much like the vast majority of today’s top models in that it is extremely smooth and silent. This is fantastic news not only for those who operate high-performance sedans and grand tourers, but also for anyone who employs their vehicle as a primary mode of transportation.

The ride quality of the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ is more taut than that of its rivals, but it is in no way unpleasant. This is due to the fact that Bridgestone built it to be more responsive. When I hit a bigger bump, I actually like it when the tire rapidly settles down and there are no reverberations because this behavior eliminates both of those problems.

When traveling at greater speeds, you may notice a tiny tread growl, but it isn’t something too important to worry about. And in today’s contemporary performance automobiles, which often have improved sound insulation, the noise is even less noticeable.

Overall, because the Potenza RE980AS+ delivers such an engaging driving experience, it is difficult for me to criticize the vehicle for having a ride that is marginally more harsh and noisier than other vehicles. If you are an aficionado just like me, I have no doubt that you will be impressed with the level of refinement that Bridgestone has achieved with its UHP all-season tire.

Put the Potenza RE980AS+ on your shortlist if you are in the market for an accomplished ultra-high-performance all-season tire. This tire is ideal for drivers who live in colder climates. The most recent iteration of Bridgestone’s Potenza tire line isn’t perfect, but it does have enough redeeming traits to set itself apart from the competition.

For example, because of its precise and sensitive handling, it offers the most fun behind the wheel of any and all of its rivals. Additionally, it has a good amount of traction on dry asphalt and performs adequately on light snow. Although its traction in the rain isn’t quite as good as that of its nearest competitors, the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 and the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus, it is still quite good when considered on its own.

The Potenza RE980AS+ comes with a treadwear warranty of 50,000 miles, which is the highest you’ll find in its category. This warranty is the icing on the cake.

What sizes does the Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS+ come in?

Wheel diameters of 16 inches all the way up to 20 inches can be found among the Potenza RE980AS+’s 53 available sizes. Each version has a speed rating of “W,” which indicates that it can be used at speeds of up to 270 kilometers per hour (168 miles per hour). For a summary of all the available sizes, kindly refer to the table that may be seen below.

Tire Size	Load/Speed Rating
205/55R16	91W SL
205/45R17	84W SL
205/50R17	93W XL
215/45R17	91W XL
215/50R17	95W XL
215/55R17	94W SL
225/45R17	94W XL
225/50R17	98W XL
225/55R17	97W SL
235/45R17	97W XL
235/55R17	99W SL
245/40R17	91W SL
245/45R17	99W XL
215/40R18	89W XL
215/45R18	93W XL
225/40R18	92W XL
225/45R18	91W SL
225/50R18	95W SL
235/40R18	95W XL
235/45R18	98W XL
235/50R18	97W SL
245/35R18	92W XL
245/40R18	97W XL
245/45R18	100W XL
255/35R18	94W XL
255/40R18	99W XL
265/35R18	97W XL
265/40R18	101W XL
275/35R18	95W SL
225/40R19	93W XL
225/45R19	96W XL
235/35R19	91W XL
245/35R19	93W XL
245/40R19	98W XL
245/45R19	98W SL
245/50R19	105W XL
255/35R19	96W XL
255/40R19	100W XL
265/40R19	102W XL
275/35R19	96W SL
275/40R19	101W SL
285/30R19	98W XL
245/35R20	95W XL
245/40R20	99W XL
245/45R20	103W XL
255/35R20	97W XL
255/45R20	101W SL
265/35R20	99W XL
275/35R20	102W XL
275/40R20	106W XL
285/35R20	100W SL
295/30R20	101W XL
305/30R20	103W XL